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A man accused of brutally raping a transwoman at knife-point in northern Italy has been arrested after his victim bumped into him weeks later.

The suspect, a 33-year-old man from Ghana, allegedly threatened the victim, a 45-year-old transwoman, with a knife on July 19th, Corriere della Sera reported.

He then reportedly forced her down a dark alleyway in the Ospizio neighbourhood of the northern city of Reggio Emilia where he beat her, pushed her to the ground, and raped her. Every time the victim cried out he punched her in the face.

After raping her he then took her mobile phone, rings and handbag and disappeared.

The victim managed to reach a bar where she alerted police. She was then treated at the Santa Maria Nuova hospital.

Around twenty days later, the woman bumped into her aggressor and contacted police.

The man was then arrested. He is accused of aggravated robbery, sexual abuse and grevious bodily harm.